Julia Joy, of NP & Joy Entertainment, tells us all about new show, SAVOY! Everybody’s Doing It, which us heading to Edinburgh Fringe very soon.
Where: C ARTS | C venues
When: 31 Jul, 1-12, 14-25 Aug
Ticket link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/savoy-everybody-s-doing-it
What are you looking forward to at Fringe?
I’m most excited about doing what I love the most – being on stage every night!
I’m also looking forward to watching a variety of shows and connecting with like-minded performers and creatives.
Tell me about SAVOY! Everybody’s Doing It. It’s described as a ‘vigorous and unapologetic new musical relationship comedy’. What’s it all about?
SAVOY! explores the themes of love, fidelity, and marriage, addressing conversations we might have a tendency to avoid.
In my experience many people in our generation feel trapped or unhappy in the traditional marriage patterns we’ve inherited from previous generations.
As we age, societal pressures and expectations weigh heavily on us. SAVOY! aims to spark thoughts and questions about finding a way out of this cycle.
Despite the seriousness of the subject, we approach it with comedy, sarcasm, and absurdity – but we are unafraid to dive into the depth of it all at the right moments.
You use ageing operettas in the show. Do you have any particular favourites from these?
My personal favourite is Ball at the Savoy by Paul Abraham.
We’ve chosen plenty of songs from this show, such as “Kangaroo” and “Niagara Fox,” which are special segments of the operetta heritage as they were heavily influenced by the early 20th century Broadway world.
“Will You Forget” from Emmerich Kálmán’s Riviera Girl is another beautiful song that I have a soft spot for.
Our musical director Samuel Macdonald has done an absolutely fantastic job at reviving and slightly modernizing the material.
What interests you about the cabaret style and genre?
The importance of the cabaret style for SAVOY! lies in its ability to break the fourth wall.
Naurelia Riddell (Kilke John) is a half-human, half-divine narrator with superpowers and insights into all things relationships.
She delights in manipulating a cast of four mortals while constantly addressing and engaging with the audience.
She draws inspiration from iconic literary characters such as Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tinker Bell from Peter Pan, and Esther Perel, the globally renowned couple’s therapist.
I see the cabaret setting as a great dramaturgical tool that serves the dual storyline of SAVOY! very well – but I can’t reveal more without giving away spoilers!
What’s next after Edinburgh?
In Edinburgh, we’ll be working towards finding the right producers and promoters to take SAVOY! further. We’d like to embark on a UK tour and bring the show to London for a run.
Personally, I will be heading to Budapest straight after the Fringe to start rehearsals as the choreographer for Lorca’s Blood Wedding.
Might I just add that I find it hilarious to have this as my next job after working almost a year on creating a show about… love and marriage!